Farmers Market Series

Frank Castiglione - Monday, June 14, 2010 - 5:12pm

The young people, in the metal shaping class I held, inspired me to make some flowers too. So far I've created a Pansy, two Orchids and three Iris. Here are the three Iris (poorly arranged, and photographed..sorry)The flowers are mostly copper, with a touch of brass. The stem has a steel wire inside with a screw welded to its end. The flower components are all held together with the screw and a nut.You can't see the heat derived patina because of my poor picture, but it came out fairly well.
As I make some new tools and improve my technique things should speed up some, but it still takes hours per flower. I admit that every moment is a joy though.
Peace,eh
FrankThree Iris

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Iris

strube1369 - Monday, June 14, 2010 - 11:54pm

I really like 'em. Especially the texture. Nice work!

Professional firefighter (retired). Amateur everything else I try to do...

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Thank You

Frank Castiglione - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 7:31am

Hi Strube,
Thank you. Welcome to Artmetal.
Frank

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iris

lin - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 11:06am

Really nice shape and texture to these. Wish we could see the patina. Lin

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Mo- betta Picture

Frank Castiglione - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 12:57pm

Hi Lin,
Thank you.I'll try to take a new mo-betta picture.
Frank

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Patina on Iris

Frank Castiglione - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 2:42pm

Well, Lin, here goes. I took this picture using a regular single incandescent overhead light. The wall to the left is blue and the brass is reflecting this. The other flower parts show that blue regardless.I used an OA torch with the smallest tip I had. I put the flame at the base of the fall petals and let the heat migrate to the outer portion of the petal. This gave me a smooth red color.The upright petals got a sweeping lick from the torch right down the center length.A whole rainbow appears.I feel like a flame version of Jack Frost. This copper metal is a great new toy.
FrankIris Patina: Iris Patina

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The shaping of the iris

visitor - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 12:13pm

The shaping of the iris petals looks excellent. I would never think of holding a flower together with a screw. I might rivit but would probably try to solder. What gage copper did you use?

marilyn

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Flashing Back

visitor - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 2:27pm

Hi Marilyn,
Thank you. I used copper flashing scraps.I think it is 16 oz.I rolled the flashing pieces in my English wheel to flatten them.The screw allows me to color each component separately and align all nine flower parts when I assemble the flower.I need to get some fancy acorn nuts for the screw end.
The stem is plain old soft copper tube. A recycled 'vote for me' sign wire fits inside of the tube.
Frank

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Cibersomewhere

Frank Castiglione - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 3:09pm

Marilyn,
I made a reply to you and forgot to sign in first. Its temporarily in cibersomewhere.
Frank

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I really like the shapes and

R L Sidebottom - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 9:34pm

I really like the shapes and textures. Nicely done!

Rick Sidebottom
Aspiring Metal Artist

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Struggled

Frank Castiglione - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 10:40pm

Hi Rick,
Thank you very much. I struggled to achieve both texture and shape. The learning curve was steep for me. Then pop! I basically ignored the bigger shape issue and worked on the lacy edge and stuff. Then I put the piece on a spherical anvil and beat from the center out with a rubber hammer. This,to my amazement,restored the integrity of the leaf shape, without destroying the detail.
Frank

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Orchid Plant

Frank Castiglione - Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 12:40pm

Here's the latest addition to the Farmers Market Series. The plant is mild steel leaves, roots ,stem,and old blossom and stand. The blossom is copper, brass and stainless steel. I learned that perpendicular scratches to the stem's length enhanced the colors that occurred from the welding heat affected zone.All the materials,except a screw and a nut,and weldment are reused(by accident).
peacE,eHOrchid Plant
franK